The macroeconomic benefits of Tennessee APRNs having full practice authority.

Background: To-date, advocacy efforts to advance full practice authority for APRNs have primarily stressed arguments based on evidence on the cost effectiveness and quality of APRN-provided care, as well as the improved care access and patient satisfaction these providers offer.

Purpose: The economic impact analysis forecasts the additional job and economic output associated with granting Tennessee APRNs full practice authority.

Methods: The IMPLAN software and a variety of data inputs were used to estimate the direct, indirect, and induced economic impact on jobs, labor income, value-added benefits, total output, and tax revenues.

Findings: From a 2017 baseline, the cumulative impact of granting Tennessee APRNs full practice authority is a net gain of 25,536 jobs and $3.2 billion in economic impact.

Discussion: Granting Tennessee APRNs full practice authority would confer substantial economic benefits and employment opportunities to the state.